A plastic based on soft contact-lens technology may solve some of the biggest challenges facing electric vehicles by letting them recharge in seconds and travel from London to Edinburgh without stopping, scientists say.

Apple is wading in to the debate over regulation of self-driving cars, declaring it is excited about the potential for automated transportation and calling on U.S. regulators not to restrict testing of such vehicles.

Otto, the self-driving truck startup owned by Uber, broke Nevada's autonomous vehicle testing laws, according to a report published by tech website Backchannel. And there's little the state can do about it.

Ford Motor Co. wants to create futuristic urban utopias where curbsides don't get clogged with illegal parking; where eco-friendly bicycles help commuters navigate the final mile of their trips to work; and where key arteries leading into and out of downtowns aren't stifled by heavy traffic during rush hour.

The U.S. Department of Transportation launched a competition to identify proving grounds for the development of self-driving cars, and the new American Center for Mobility in Michigan could be a contender.

A group of automakers and tech firms advocating for autonomous vehicles has called on U.S. regulators to change federal auto safety standards that effectively prohibit the operation of a car without the presence of a driver.

Leaders of the American Center for Mobility testing site for driverless cars formally kicked off construction of the planned $80 million project, saying Michigan will be competitive in a race for a federal autonomous vehicle testing designation.

Six years and three delays after Mazda proclaimed its readiness to sell diesels in the United States, CEO Masamichi Kogai says his company has finally achieved a way to balance driving performance with clean emissions.

Samsung's $8 billion agreement to buy Harman International helped breathe some life into a few moribund auto stocks, especially Visteon, as investors speculate that there could be a buying spree of companies that make technology for self-driving cars.

Electric vehicle startup Faraday Future said it stopped construction on a planned $1 billion factory in North Las Vegas, Nev. The company, which is based in Gardena, Calif., said it plans to restart work on the plant in 2017.

Computer chip giant Intel intends to muscle into the fast-growing market for self-driving vehicles. At the Los Angeles Auto Show today, CEO Brian Krzanich said Intel Capital intended to invest more than $250 million over the next two years to develop technology for autonomous vehicles.